Lockheed refines autonomous technology for military vehicles

By Defense Systems Staff

Oct 25, 2012

Lockheed Martin has won an $11 million contract from the Defense Department to develop and test and autonomous system to assist drivers in military supply convoys and even enable autonomous operation of vehicles in convoys, the company said Oct. 24.

Work on the Autonomous Mobility Appliqué System (AMAS) is being done through an agreement with the Robotics Technology Consortium, the company said.

AMAS is a multi-platform kit that integrates low-cost sensors and control systems onto Army and Marine Corps tactical vehicles to assist drivers or enable autonomous operation in convoys, the company said. It includes a sensing and control function that alerts users so they can rapidly react to safety threats.

The system was designed in such a way that it does not interfere with drivers who choose to operate their vehicle manually, the company said.